Exum

Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, EXUM fuses trippy rap, soul-baring indie rock, theatrical dance-pop, and additional genres into a stylish, swaggering sound. After rising to prominence as a professional football player, he stepped away from athletic life in 2019 to pursue music full-time, issuing the boundary-less full-length Xardinal Coffee two years later.

Antone Chavez Exum, Jr. first drew attention for his athletic prowess in high school. Following graduation from Virginia Tech, the Minnesota Vikings selected him in the 2014 draft. Recording sessions began in 2016, and after he joined the San Francisco 49ers the next year, Norwegian producer Erik Samkopf entered the picture as a collaborator. Multiple releases and re-signings with the 49ers preceded his final cut at the close of 2019, at which point he shifted entirely to music and videos, issuing early singles such as the aggressive, metallic rap track "Nobody Hard as Me" and the dramatic, atmospheric "Arrest the Dancer."

EXUM launched the label and artist collective ücke, enlisting producers and musicians including Samkopf and Dex Barstad along with video directors Allison Bunce and Rosabel Ferber to shape a genre-free aesthetic aligned with his colorful personality. Ahead of the full project, he shared singles such as the chiming, guitar-driven alternative cut "Dark Kept Secret" and a Lady Gaga-inspired remake of "Arrest the Dancer," then delivered his debut album, Xardinal Coffee, in 2021.